100 signatures reached
To: Councillors Abdul Malik, Izzy Russell, Tim Wye (Ashley Ward), and Carla Denyer MP. Bristol City Council (BCC) Planning and Building Control, BCC's Regulatory Development Control Committee, and BCC Area Committee 4.
Save The Miners Arms!
Publicly state that any application for change of use will be refused, and ensure the site remains designated as a public house or community venue.
Support the designation of The Miners Arms as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011, and assist residents in completing this process.
Facilitate an open meeting between council representatives, local residents, and the site’s owners to clarify the site’s status and discuss options for reopening.
Identify credible buyers and support community or cooperative ownership to bring The Miners Arms back into safe hands.
Consider initiating a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if the owners continue to leave the site empty or refuse to cooperate, and state this intention publicly to apply pressure in any ongoing negotiations.
Why is this important?
The legendary Miners Arms in St Werburghs suddenly closed its doors on Friday 22 August 2025 and was boarded up on Friday 10 October 2025. The community has been left in the dark as to its future. We are concerned, and have been advised, that the owners intend to run the building into the ground, seek a change of use, and eventually sell the site to be redeveloped into housing. We refuse to let this happen and request help from our representatives and Bristol City Council Planning officers to ensure this historic pub reopens.
The Miners Arms is beloved amongst the local and wider Bristol community. It has long-been a cornerstone of St Werburghs, serving a diverse clientele, from the regulars who battle to the top of the of the pool table league, to the Friday night revelers drawn to the buzz of conversation, the relaxed weekend stop-ins warming up by the fire in the classic interior, and the weary climbers who recover with a pint after reaching the dizzying heights of The Church. The regular folk night, dub night, and pub quiz are central to our local culture, and the upstairs events room allows residents to celebrate those important moments in life with their closest friends.
The Miners Arms is beloved amongst the local and wider Bristol community. It has long-been a cornerstone of St Werburghs, serving a diverse clientele, from the regulars who battle to the top of the of the pool table league, to the Friday night revelers drawn to the buzz of conversation, the relaxed weekend stop-ins warming up by the fire in the classic interior, and the weary climbers who recover with a pint after reaching the dizzying heights of The Church. The regular folk night, dub night, and pub quiz are central to our local culture, and the upstairs events room allows residents to celebrate those important moments in life with their closest friends.
Last August, staff and locals were shocked to read that the pub would be closing with immediate effect due to a change in its trading terms, making it impossible to continue. Dawkins, who ran the pub, said they were trying their hardest to reopen but gave no further information. Six weeks later, the pub has been boarded up with security panels, turning our much-loved pub into an eyesore and destroying hopes of a quick reopening.
We strongly believe that with new management, and fair ownership, The Miner’s Arms will be a successful, thriving business — and there are clear options for this on the table. We have heard interest from local brewery owners in taking on the pub, as well as St Werburghs residents, who could offeralternative, community ownership. We believe that the pub is owned by Punch, but they have been obstructive in negotiations, and no information is publicly available.
To prevent the owners profiting from the destruction of our community, we call on Bristol City Council, and our political representatives, Cllrs Abdul Malik, Izzy Russell, Tim Wye, and Green Party MP Carla Denyer, to take immediate action to safeguard The Miners Arms, and its iconic place in our community.
